Automobile.



N. 890,615. PATENTED JUNE 16, 1908. A. G. DAVIS.y

AUTOMOBILE.

APPLIOATION FILED PEB. 8, 1904. 4

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Witnesses; Inventor:

No. 890,615. PATBNTEDJUNE 16, 1908. A. G. DAVIS.

AUTOMOBILE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 8, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Witnesses Inventor z "Nm 890,61-5. PATENTEDJUNE 16,190.8.

A. G. DAVIS.

AUTOMOBILE.

. APPLIOATION FILED vIFBB. 8, 1904.

` s SHEETS-SHEET 3.

FIQ. 5.

5 4 5 2 loFFB, VI l' 6 Witnesses: Inventor; ffm... WL LA UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT G. DAVIS, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRICCOMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

AUTOMOBILE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 16, 1908.

Application filed February 8, 1904. Serial No. 192,479-

To all whom it `may concern:

Be 1t known that I, ALBERTO. Davis, a

citizen of the United States,fresiding at In carrying out my invention,I provide a prime mover, such for instance as a gasolene engine, and anelectric generator driven tl'iereby, thus obtaining' the convenience andflexibility of electric drive, and eliminating the necessity of usingspeed-changing gears. One feature of my invention consists in thearrangement of` the motor driven by the generator and its circuits,whereby operation at a number of speeds and a gradual variation of speedand torque may be readily and efficiently obtained with a single motor.

Another feature of my invention consists inan arrangement whereby alllosses in the motor are prevented when the machine'is running at fullspeed. 1

Another feature of my invention consists in an arrangement wherebythe-generator circuit is 'gradually opened upon the application of thebrake, regardless ofthe position of the circuit controller.

Another feature of my .invention consists in thef mechanicalarrangementof the motiver parts, whereby the -motivel parts form a com- )act unit,efficient in operation and not lialife to bethrown out of alinement orinjured by jarring or straining on rough or uneven roads. I

Other features of my invention will appear from the followingspecification and from the accompanying drawings. in which Figure 1lshows a side view, with two wheels removed, of an automobile arranged inac- 'cordance with my invention; lig. 2 shows a plan view of the sainewith the car body re moved; Fig. 3 shows diagrammatically a controllingswitch adapted to my invention with the. cont-acts developed in a plane;Fig. 4 shows a set of diagrams of circ-ult connections correspomling tothe different positions of the controlling switch shown in Fig. 3; andFlg. 5 shows diagrammatleally the brake pedal and the switch in thegenerator circuit controlled thereby.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, A repre- 60 sents the main frame ofthe automobile., upon which is supported the car body B, and to whichare. secured in the usual manner the bearings for the wheels li.

C is an auxiliary frame, shown in Fig. 2,

upon which are mounted the motive parts of the machine, and which issupported from` the main frame A by a three-point suspension. Frame Cmaybe secured at one end t'frame A bybolts, as shown in Fig. 2, and attheother end may be supported from frame A by the hook or nose c, or byanyother form of singlepoint suspension. 'lghe three-point suspension ofauxiliary frame C from frame Ainsures that any strain or bending offrame A, due to rough or unevenroads, will not be transmitted to theauxihary frame C and to the m0- tive parts carried thereby.

Supported from frame(1 is the prime mover C which may be ofany sultabletype, such as a gasolene engine.' Mounted on the shaft ofthe prime moverE is the revolving part 0r armature of the generator G, the vstationarypart or field of which is secured to frame C.

The armature is placed outside of the field,

as shown in Fig. 2, in order that the proportionate weight and theradius of gyration may be increased in order that it may act as afly-wheel for the engine E. Also secured t0 traine is the motor M, whichis placed with its shaft in line'with the engine shaft, and

which carries at one end of its shaft one mem- The other member of Wit-hber of the clutch l". clutch l" iscarried by the engine shaft.

this arrangement the motor may be driven Although I have indicated a 10'ries therewith. The controlling switch,

differential gears D, which are-connectedv l tor is running atapproximately. the same through sprocket chains tofthe Wheels in theusual manner. The arrangement of'engine, generator and motor, inallnement and supported from a single frame, forms a compact unit of themotive parts, enables the engine a shaft to be clutched directly to thedifferen- -system of electrical-control. The motor M l handle as in Fi 1consists of t tial gears Without transmission losses, and

insures the maintenance at all times of the prcIr'per relations betweenthe motive parts.

representsa band brake, ,whichl may be of any well known type, and whichis oper# ated through a bell-crank and through the rod h' by the brakepedal h shown in Fig. l.

Referring now Vto Fig.,3, I shall describe ai is provided with twoarmature windings and two commutators in order that series parallelcombinations may be obtained in a single machine. The two armaturewindings with matically at m m in Fi 3. Themotonfield is indicated by man as shown, has taps led to the controlling switch from both ends andfrom an intermediate point on the winding. The generator, which isindicated in Fig. 3 at G, and is there shown as acorn ound-y woundmachine, may be of any suitab e type. j, in Fig. 3, represents the coilof the magnetic clutch; 1' represents a resistance in seconvenient estationary contact-lingeredl to i, and the movable contacts as shown.The-controlling switch, besides the rQE position, has six runninpositions. -Positionsgl to 5, as indicated y the dotted lines, representthe forward running.

ositions, while'the osition B represents the aching/position. hecircuitconnections, corres onding to the dijerent positions of the contro lingswitch shown inFi 3,- are shown in Fig. 4. Thus, in dia am x the circuitconnections for position of the motor controlling switch are shown. Thegenerator G is connected through the field m', and the twoarmaturewindmgs m ofthe motor in sewhich ma be operated by anyl ries.Diagram 1X, corresponding to position 1 of the controller, shows thegenerator connectedi to the eld and the two armature i windings inseries, with the direction of current through. the armature windingsreversed relative to diagram'Bx. This is the slowspeedv forwardposition. Diagram. 2x shows a ortion of the field cut out, or short-cin.

cmted. The speed of the motor is cnsequentlyl increased and this diagramcorreonds tothe second speed. In diagram 3x,

s t e two armature windin s are shown conf nected in plarallel with eacother and in series with t e whole field. In diagram 4x the armaturewindinhgs are shown inparallel 'and a ortion of the eldwindingshort-circuited. T corresponds to the fourth or highest speed.When thisspeed is reached, the me.=

speedas the generator, and in order to save e ectrical losses in themotor, the clutch connecting motorshaft andengine Shaft may beenergized, and 'the motor circuit opened. This is accomplished atposition 5 of the control switch, and the circuit arrangement is shownin diagram 5x.

By the above described arrangement, a i

simple, eflicient andonvenient control of the automobile is provided,whereby a numb'er of speeds may be obtained, the direction of movementreversed, and gradual accelera-` tion from one speedto another secured.

In order to permit of quick stopping without the necesslty for returningthe controller handle to its off position, and also toprevent anapplication of the brake while energy is being supplied from the engineto the motor,

.I provide the arrangement shown in Fig. 5. thelr commutators areindicated Ydiagram- In Fig. 5, `h Arepresents the brake-,pedal whichcontrols the band-,brake H throu h the connecting rod h', as has alreadybeen escribed. Mounted onthe same shaft with the brake-pedal h andadapted to be engaged thereby is the crank or lever 7c, which is conso inected through 'the bell-crank vlc and connecting rods to the switchmember K. Switch member K is connected in the generator circuit, andwhenrotated on its axis en` gages consecutively the contacts connectedto the resistance R, as shown. The normal position of switch member K isas shonw in theiigure. In this position resistanceR is entirely cutoutof the generator circuit. Now, if the brakeedal h is de ressed,tightening the band-bra e H, switc member K` is rotated toward the left,cutting in resistance R step by step, and gradually reducing the currentin the generatorV circuit and conseqhuentlythe power su plied to themotor, until when bra e-pedal is fully depressed, the extreme left-handposition is reached b switch member K and the generator circuit 1s oened. Thus, by the simple application of t e brake, by means of thebrake-pedal, the generator circuit is gradually, yet positively o ened,regardlesso the position o the hand e I of the'controllin switch.

I have now descri ed a complete motive system and control therefor, forautomobiles, comprising a number of features which, While I prefer touse them to ether, ma with advantage be used separate y, and w ich Idesire to claim, whether used together or not. Moreover I have shown myinvention embodied in a com lete motor car, and for that purpose have s-own a number of details which are not important to my invention, andvwhich'may be materially modified without departin' from the spiritthereof. Accordingly, I o not desire to limit myself to the particularconstruction and arran ement lof parts here shown, since changes W -chdo prime mover.

and which are-within the scopeof the apended claims, will be obvious tothose skilled in the art.

vWhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States,is,

1. In a selfropelled vehicle, in combination with the' 'rame thereof, aprime mover, an electric generator having its moving member mounted onthe shaft of the prime mover, an electric rriotor having its shaft inline with the shaft of the prime mover, and an auxiliary framesupporting said primemover, said generator and said motor, and suspendedfrom the said vehicle frame.

2. In a self-propelled vehicle, in combination with the main framethereof,- an auxiliary frame supported at three points from said mainframe, a prime mover supported from said auxiliary frame, an electricgenerator having its stationary member supported from said auxiliaryframe andl its movable member mounted on the shaft of said rime mover,and an electric lmotor supporte from said auxiliary frame and having itsshaft in line with the shaft of said rime mover.

3. In a selfpropelle vehicle, a prime mover, an electricg'eneratordriven thereby, an electric motor having a plurality of armaturewindings, a switch adapted to connect said generator to said motorand-to vary the relative connections of said motor windings, and meansfor clutching said motor to said 4. In a self-propelled vehicle, a primeAmover, an electric generator driven thereby,

an electric motor having a plurality of armature windings, and acontrolling switch adapted to connect said generator to said motor, tovary the series-parallel connections of said motor and to vary the iieldampereturns of said motor.

5. In a self-propelled vehicle, aI prime mover, an electric generatordriven thereby, an electric motor having two armature windings, amagnetic clutch adapted when energized to c utch said motor to saidprime mover, and a controlling switch adapted to connect said generatorto the motor armature windings in series, then to weaken the iicld ol'the motor, then to connect the motor armature windings in parallel andto strengthen the ielid of the'motor, then to vweaken again the field ofthe motor, and then to connect said generator to said magnetic A clutchand too )en the circuit of the motor;

.an electric motor adapted to-be driven by said generator, a brake,means for controlling said brake, and means actuated by thebrakecontrolling means for inserting resistance 1n.

vthe circuit of said generator.

8. In a self-propelled vehicle, a prime mover, an electric generatordriven thereby, an electric motor-adapted to be driven by saidgenerator, a brake, means Jfor applying said brake, and a switch" in thecircuit of said generator arranged to be operated upon the applicationof said brake.

9. In a self-propelled vehicle, a prime mover, an electric generatordriven thereby, an-elecftric motor adapted to vbe driven by saidgenerator, a brake, means for applying said brake, and a switch arrangedto be oper- `ated upon the application of .said brake and `to introduceresistance gradually into th circuit of said generator.

10. In a self-propelled vehicle, aprirne mover, an electric generatordriven thereby,

an electric'motor adapted to be driven b vsaid generator, a brake, apedal controlling said brake, and a switch in the `circuit ofsaidgenerator arranged to be operated by said pedal.

11. In a self}r)ropelled vehicle, in combination with the main framethereof, an auxiliary frame supported at three points from' saidmainframe., a prime mover, an electric generator, and an electric motorall supported from said auxiliary frame.

12. In a self-propelled vehicle, a primeA mover, a driven member`velectric transmission mechanism between said prime mover and said drivenmember, a brake, means for controlling said brake, and means operativeupon the application of the brake for opening tlierircuitfof thetransmission mechanism.

13. In a self-propelled vehicle, a prime mover, a driven member,electric transmission mechanism between said prime' mover and saiddriven inenibei-, a brake, means for controlling said brake, and meansoperative `upon the application of the brake for insert- 15. Thecombination ol a prime mover, a

dynamo driven thereby, a motor in axial alinen'ient with the dynamo,electrical con'- nections between the dynamo and motor, a driven memberadapted to be actuated by tliemotor; vvmeans for locking the motor anddynamo together when the motor circuits have been adjusted for themaximum speed, whereby the power of the prime mover will be transmitteddirectly to the driven member,

` and' means for cutting the motor and dynamo out of circuit, wheninterlocked, substantially as described.

16. In combination, a'prime mover, a rimary shaft' driven thereby, adriven memy er,

a secondary shaft actuating the driven member, a dynamo operated fromthe primary shaft, an electric motor arranged to operate the secondaryshaft, means for directly connecting the secondary and primary shafts,electrical connections between the dynamo and motor, and means forthrowing the dynamo and motor out of electrical operaconnected, andmeans providing ay fixed point at which the aforesaid means may beactuated in the o eration of the generator and motor armatu es.

18. In a power translating apparatus, the combination with aprime-.moyen of a generator armature', a motorarmature, a clutch bywhich theshafts of said armatures may be connected, and -means providinga fixed point at which the aforesaid clutch may be actuated in theoperation of the said armatures.

1-9. A power translating apparatus, comprising a prime-mover, anelectric'generator, an electric motoi receiving current from saidgenerator, means whereby the armature shafts of the said generator andmotor may `be coupled together, and means providing a fixed point atwhich the aforesaid means may be actuated in the operation of saidgenerator and motor. 1 f

-20. In'l a power translating apparatus, and in combination, a generatorarmature, a inotora'rm'ature, means for supplying the current from thegenerator armature to the motor'armature, means f or connect-ing anddisconnecting the shafts of said armatures, and

means providing a fixed point at which the last aforesaid means may beactuated in the operation of thesaid armatures. s

21; A power translating apparatus, comprising a prime-mover, an electricenerator, an electric motor, meansfor supp ying current from thegeneratpr to the motor, means for controlling the torque and speedoutput of the motor, means for connecting the motor and generatorvarmatures together mechanically, and means providing a fixed p'oint atwhich the mechanical connection may be made in the operation of sthemotorand dynamo.

22.. In a power translating apparatus, the combination withaprirne-mover, of a generf` ator armature, a motor armature, means forproducing'fa magnetic flux through said armatures, aclutch forconnecting the shafts of said armatures, and means for operating saidclutch to connect the shafts when the motor circuits have been adjustedfor maximum speed. l

23. In a power translating apparatus, and

in combination7 a prime-mover, an 'electric generator, an electricmotor, lmeans for connecting the generator and motor electrically, meansfor connecting said generator and motor mechanically, and means for'operating the last aforesaid means and regulating the magnetic flux inthe fields of the electrical devices. Y

24. In a power translating apparatus, a

source of power,a driven member, electrical means for operating thedriven member by the source lof power, mechanical means for operatingthe driven member by the source ov power,' and means rendering one ofsaid means inoperative when the other is'operative. f

25. In a'power translating apparatus a source of power, a drivenr'hembenvmeans whereby the driven member maybe actuated electrically,means whereby the driven member v may be actuated mechanically, and

means providing a certain point at which the operation of the lastaforesaid means may be effected in the .operation of the electricalmeans. .e

.26. Ina power translatmg apparatus, a source of power, a drlven member,electrical and mechaniealmeans interchangeably availf.

able for` operating the driven member by the source of power and meansproviding a certain' point at which the operation of the aforesaidmechanical means ma be effected in the operationf the electrica means.

27. In a ower translating system, a primemover, a riven member,electrical and mechanical means interchangeably available for operatingthel driven member by the prime mover, controlling devices for varyingthe speed and torque delivered from the prime mover through saidelectrical means to the driven member, andl means providing a certainpoint at which the operation of said mechanical means may` be effectedIin the operation of the controlling devices.

28. In a power translating apparatus, the combination with a primemover, of a generator armature, amotor armature, means for producing anelectromagnetic flux throu h said armatures, means for regulating t eelectromagnetic flux through the motor( armature, a clutch forconnecting the shaftsof '29,. In a vpower translating apparatus,-thev vaclutch for connecting the shafts of the armatures together, and meansfor operating said clutch and controlling the `means for regulating theflux through the said armatures so that the latter are electricallyinoperative when the clutch is operative, and vice versa.

30. In a power translating apparatus, the combination with aprime-mover, of a generator'armature, a motorarmature, means forproducing a magnetic flux through said armatures, means for regulatingthe magnetic flux through said armatures, means by which the shafts ofsaid armatures may be connected, and means providing a fixed point atwhich the last aforesaid means may be actuated in the operation of thegenerator and `motor armatures. V

31. In a power translating apparatus, the combination with aprime-mover, of a generator armature, a motor armature, means forproducing a magnetic fiux through said armatures, means for regulatingthe magnetic flux' through said armatures, a clutch by which the shaftsof saidarmatures may be connected, and means providing a fixed point atwhich the aforesaid clutch mayA be actuated in the operation of the saidarmatures.

32. In a power translating apparatus, the combination with aprime-mover, of a generator armature, a motor-armature, meanselectromagnetically operated by which the shafts of said-armatures maybe connected, and means/providing a xed point at which the aforesaidmeans may be actuated in the operation of the generator and motorarmatures. g

33. In a p`ower translating apparatus, the combination-with aprime-mover, of a gener-` ator armature, a motor armature, 'a clutchelectromagnetically operated by which the shafts of saidl armatures maybe connected, and means providing a fixed point at which the aforesaidclutch may be actuated in the operation of the said armatures.

34. In a power translating apparatus, a prime-mover, a driven member, adynamo, a motor, an electromagnetically operated clutch for coupling theshafts of the armatures of said dynamo and motor together, means forproducing a magnetic flux through the`armatures of said dynamo andmotor,

means for controlling `the magnetic fluxthrough the armatures of saiddynamo and motor for varying the speed offand the torque required of themotor, electrical connectionsbetween the respective terminals ofthedynamo and motor, and electrical vconnections from the re's ectiveterminals of said clutch across vthe ynamo terminals in order that whenthe motor 1s operating at a slow speed l i l and considerable torque theclutch will be inoperative because of the low impressed elecytromotiveforce, and when the motor is opi erating at high speed and inconsiderable torque, the clutch will be automatically opg erativebecause of the higher impressed electro-motive-force.

35. In a power translating apparatus, a source of power, a drivenmember, electrical means for operating the driven member by thefsourceof power, mechanical means for Aoperating the driven member by thesource of power, and means providing a fixed point at which theoperation of either of the aforesaid means inay be effected in theoperation of the other.

36. In a power translating apparatus, a source of power, a drivenmember, means whereby the driven member may be actuated electrically,means whereby the driven member may be actuated mechanically, and meansproviding a fixed point at which the operation of eitherof the aforesaidmeans may be effected in the operation of the other.

37. In a powe translating apparatus, a source of power, a driven member,electrical and mechanical means interchangeably available for operatingthe driven member by the source of power, and means providing a fixedpoint at which the operation of either of the aforesaid -means may beeffected in the operation of the other.

3S. In a power `translating apparatus, a source of power, a drivenmember, electrical means for operating the driven member by the sourceof power, mechanical means for operatingthe driven member by the sourceo power, and means providing a fixed point at which the operation ofeither of the aforesaid means may onlybe e'ected in the operation oftheother.

39. In a power translating a paratus, a source of power, a driven `memer, -means whereby the driven member may be actuated electrically, meanswhereby the driven member may b'e actuated mechanically', and meansproviding a fixed oint at which the operation of the aforesai means mayonly be effected in the operation of the other.

40. In a power translating apparatus, a source of power, a drivenmember, electrical and mechanical means interchangeably available inoperating the driven member by the source of power, and means providinga fixed point at which the operation of the aforesaid means may only beeffected in the operation of the other.

, 41. In combination, a prime mover, a primary shaft drivenv thereby, asecondary shaft in axial alinement. with the primary shaft, a drivenpart or member operated by said` seeondary shaft, a clutch between theprimary and secondary shafts, and means for throwing said clutch into orout of operative position; with a dynamo operated by the 4 primry shaft,an electric motor erral edto I lli 1'Witness Whereofl here hereunto setI .f3 motor out of electrical o eration when 'the VWitnesses:l

operate tho/'e seconday'haft, electxilc` vconhan'd this sixth dayo'February, 1904. nections ctween t e yna'mo an zmot'or, v f

and means forthrowing said dynamo `and ALBERT G' DAVIS' secondary shaftis directy driven from the BENJAMIN B. HULL i primary shaft.

- HELEN (D EFOIED.`

